2 h. ago We must turn Labour around, deputy leadership frontrunner warns Starmer as she hits out at ‘mistakes’

Exclusive: Frontrunner for deputy leadership takes aim at PM over ‘mis-steps and mistakes’, saying she was sacked for opposing cuts and that the party must reconnect with lost voters - but not by copying Reform

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7 h. ago Labour deputy leadership contest may only cause more trouble for Starmer

Victory for Lucy Powell or Bridget Phillipson, the rivals at the centre of the race, could be reckoning for the party When Lucy Powell got a phone call from a withheld number in her constituency office in Manchester on the day Angela Rayner resigned, Powell told her staff: “This is me getting the sack.” Never would the former Commons leader have believed less than two months later that she might be on the brink of returning as Labour’s deputy leader.Her rival, Bridget Phillipson, also never expected to be in this position. Hurt by some of the internal briefing against her position as education secretary, she debated for more than a day whether to join the race at all. Being cast as the favoured candidate has not been comfortable. Continue reading...

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23 h. ago Two rivals vying to be Labour's next deputy leader begin final week of campaigning

The deputy leadership contest was triggered after Angela Rayner stood down over a row over her tax affairs.

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24 h. ago Labour deputy leader rivals begin their final week of campaigning

The deputy leadership contest was triggered after Angela Rayner stood down over a row over her tax affairs.

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32 h. ago Lucy Powell hits out at anonymous briefing in Labour deputy leadership race

Her opponent Bridget Phillipson said she had also been subjected to ‘vicious’ briefing.

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58 h. ago HARRIET HARMAN: 'If Lucy Powell's elected Deputy I hope Keir Starmer will offer her a seat in the Cabinet'

'I think the party expects the person they elected as their deputy to be part of Labour’s top team in a Labour government', the former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party writes

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6 d. ago Budget must be ‘line in the sand’ after first year’s mistakes, says Powell

Labour deputy leadership hopeful Lucy Powell said it should give ‘a clear articulation of the core purpose of the Labour Government’.

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6 d. ago Tories seek to keep up pressure over collapse of Chinese spying case

The director of public prosecutions has been asked if the case could be resumed if the Government declares Beijing is a threat to national security.

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8 d. ago Lucy Powell calls on Labour not to ‘write off’ May local elections

Exclusive: deputy leadership favourite says budget can revive party’s appeal, while Bridget Phillipson pitches to channel grassroots views to cabinetLabour should not “write off” next May’s elections as a likely moment for big losses but use the budget as a way to seize back voters’ attention, Lucy Powell has said as the battle to be the party’s deputy leadership entered its final period.With voting among party members under way, Bridget Phillipson, Powell’s rival for the post, said if she won she would set up a formal system to reflect the views of members and unions to the cabinet on a regular basis. Continue reading...

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8 d. ago Phillipson signals Government will ‘do the right thing’ and lift benefit cap

The Education Secretary said she will be ‘arguing’ the case for the change in Cabinet.

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9 d. ago Why should you be Labour’s next deputy leader? Guardian readers quiz the candidates

As party members prepare to choose between Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell, the pair answer questions on wealth taxes, Brexit, the climate crisis and the far right Continue reading...

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1 week ago Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein in Downing Street while prime minister after lobbying from Lord Mandelson

A memo by a senior civil servant briefs the Labour leader about the ‘super-rich’ financier ahead of the meeting

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1 week ago Labour deputy leader battle turns nasty as Bridget Phillipson allies warn Corbynites want win for 'anti

Supporters of Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary and Starmerite candidate, have warned that the remaining rump of Corbynistas in the party are lining up behind her rival Lucy Powell.

Events

1 week ago Tory plan to abolish stamp duty ‘will benefit London and the wealthiest the most’ – UK politics live

The Social Market Foundation thinktank says council tax reform and a property-based tax would be more sustainable and fairerVoting in the Labour deputy leadership election opens today. Lucy Powell, the former Commons leader, is seen as the favourite and, as Jessica Elgot reports, Powell told supporters yesterday that, if she is elected, she will use the post to argue for changes in the way the government is operating. “We can’t sugarcoat the fact that things aren’t going well,” she said.Powell is no longer a government minister and, if she is elected deputy leader, she will do the job from the backbenches. In an interview on Newsnight last night, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary standing against Powell, said a Powell victory would be “destabilising” for the party. She said:[Electing Powell] risks destabilising the party we best achieve what we need to do together when we have those fierce conversations, including disagreements, behind closed doors.Members need to understa...

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1 week ago Tories would abolish stamp duty, Badenoch tells party conference – UK politics live

Party leader says measure is a ‘bad tax’ and scrapping it would free up the housing market and improve social mobilityVoting in the Labour deputy leadership election opens today. Lucy Powell, the former Commons leader, is seen as the favourite and, as Jessica Elgot reports, Powell told supporters yesterday that, if she is elected, she will use the post to argue for changes in the way the government is operating. “We can’t sugarcoat the fact that things aren’t going well,” she said.Powell is no longer a government minister and, if she is elected deputy leader, she will do the job from the backbenches. In an interview on Newsnight last night, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary standing against Powell, said a Powell victory would be “destabilising” for the party. She said:[Electing Powell] risks destabilising the party we best achieve what we need to do together when we have those fierce conversations, including disagreements, behind closed doors.Members need to understand tha...

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1 week ago Frontrunner to be Starmer's Labour deputy admits 'things aren't going well' under his leadership and says the party cannot 'sugarcoat' failure

Lucy Powell, who was sacked as a minister by Sir Keir last month, hit out as voting opened in the race to become the party's deputy leader, saying his record should not be 'sugar-coated'.

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1 week ago Phillipson accuses Powell of ‘energising our opponents’ as voting begins

Ballots opened on Wednesday for members and affiliates in the Labour deputy leadership race.

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1 week ago Labour ‘can’t sugarcoat fact things aren’t going well’, Lucy Powell says

The deputy leadership contender said the party needs to start telling ‘a stronger story’.

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1 week ago BRIDGET PHILLIPSON: 'I guarantee child poverty will fall in this Parliament'

Labour deputy leadership hopeful Bridget Phillipson sets out her pitch for job in the Mirror as she pledges to put the party's soul in the heart of the Government

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1 week ago Lucy Powell vows to talk tough with No10 and says Labour can't 'out

Labour deputy leadership hopeful Lucy Powell called for a 'course correction' after a bumpy first year - but said she won't be 'throwing bricks' at Keir Starmer if elected

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